Oscar Watch: Is Michael Jackson the Heath Ledger of 2009?

By Tricia Romano Posted Oct 30th 2009 02:00PM

We already know that death sometimes pays off for artists. In Michael Jackson's case, death is paying off in dollars ($20 million worldwide so far), but will it pay off in pretty gold statuettes? Elizabeth Taylor might have been a tad hyperbolic when she Tweeted: "It is the single most brilliant piece of filmmaking I have ever seen. It cements forever Michael's genius in every aspect of creativity. If that weren't enough, she also said, "I truly believe this film should be nominated in every category conceivable."

Before you sniff at her assessment, consider: Google News tells us there's already 5,249 news stories for the search: "This Is It Oscar." Not only that, but Sony this week announced plans to submit the flick for several categories.

However, dreams of capturing the Best Documentary Oscar are already dashed -- as they missed the deadline. So, they are clearly aiming for some other possibilities: Best Sound, Film Editing, Best Director, and Best Picture.

But does it have any chance? Can the Heath Ledger effect carry over and nab Jackson an Oscar Posthumously?

Village Voice columnist Michael Musto doesn't think so. "I think Peter Finch and Heath Ledger are the only actors to win an Oscar posthumously, so it doesn't necessarily help your chances to be dead. It's actually better if you're ABOUT to be dead."

The Hollywood Reporter's Roger Friedman doesn't think it's likely, either. "I don't think there's a Heath Ledger effect. 'This Is It' is a celebrity documentary/concert film. And while I loved it, and it deserves a big audience, Oscar documentaries tend to be more serious -- they're usually about hunger, deprivation, poverty or the Holocaust. I'd much rather see Joe Berlinger's 'Crude' get into the final five. If anything, 'This Is It' should be celebrated at the Grammy Awards with some kind of special citation. And I have a feeling it will be."

Michael Musto doesn't think the flick has a chance in you-know-what: "This doesn't have a chance for a Best Picture nomination, mainly because a documentary has never gotten that kind of recognition, even something by that other God-fearing Michael, Mr. Moore. Even a FAUX documentary like 'Paranormal Activity' doesn't have a chance (And yes, despite popular supposition, that IS a separate movie from 'This is It')."

Now that the Best Pic category has been opened up to include 10 flicks, Musto is still skeptical. "I sincerely doubt 'This Is It' will get in there, though a Golden Globe nod seems inevitable, nyuck nyuck."

Musto isn't impressed by the Jackson family's willingness to exploit the dead singer. "Of course, if there was a statuette for slick exploitation, the trophy would be in the bag--though it would have to tie with the televised all-star memorial, Rabbi Schmouley's book, and Joe Jackson for announcing his new label when the body was barely cold."

Tags: Elizabeth Taylor, ElizabethTaylor, heath ledger, HeathLedger, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, this is it, ThisIsIt

Comments

(33)

Friday 30 October

By Christina

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Please don't compare Heath to Michael. Heath was a very talented actor and Michael was nothing but a singer. Michael's movie isn't a movie, it's a concert so why should it even be considered for an Oscar or Gloden Globe? If it is nominated & it wins, it's only because he died, that's it! Heath deserved those awards he won & he would have won them even if he lived, plain & simple!!!!

By Tommy

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Nothing but a singer? Nothing but a singer? I cant believe you actually said that. Michael was THEE singer. He is the single most inspiring figure in music history. He probably doesnt deserve Oscat nods for that movie, I never seen it. But dont deminish what he did for music because you think Heath Ledger is a better actor. Which I agree, he is a better actor. I disagree about his Joker role. It was an ok role that was elevated because the hype of his death. Had he not have died I would have not paid so much attention to it, nor would a lot of other people. What I mean is, it doesnt matter how great you did something in no one paid attention to it. It probably was the single most scrutinized role of the year. And he delivered, but does that make it the best? Not exactly.

By jj48isgreat

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Sorry, Tommy, but you are WRONG! Oscar rumors were swirling around before The Dark Knight was even released. You are entitled to your opinion about Heath's version of the Joker, but it was LIGHT YEARS better than Jack Nicholson's version. I like Jack's work, but the whole movie was STUPID! Tim Burton is strange, but it lacked sparkle and just about everything else.

Saturday 31 October

By Debbie

"Michael Jackson was only a singer..."

OMGoodness, how about coreographer, songwriter, writer, illustrator, poet, vidiographer and author?

Health Ledger was a great actor...for about 10 years, at the most. He didn't write, he didn't sing, he didn't direct...nothing else. Who knows what he might have accomplished if he had lived longer but we know what Michael has accomplished. MUSICAL HISTORY! Michael Jackson was a musical genius from the cradle. You can't compete with that.

By ally

I'm sorry, but I"ve just seen the movie and it in every way deserves an award. I'm with Liz. He is the king. He's spectacular, loving, humanitarian, perfectionist, and every bit the super star. He is incredible. It's mezmerizing, you don't want to blink. He's smooth as silk, and looking very healthy. His face looks like and angels. He moves like no other. His voice unwavering. I wish he never went away. The world lost a treasure. Please, all the haters don't need to reply.

By Jeannie

I Agree 100%!!!!

By lifetime fan

I saw the movie and Michael was great. He is a genius from what I saw in the "this is it" I think he does deserve a reward because he not only was a singer he was a coreographer, director. He had a brilliant mind and should he have lived, and I wish he had, he would have done an outstanding piece of history of a comeback in the 02 arena. I would have loved to see the whole performance and not the cut and edited version. An amazing piece of work.

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

DON'T EVEN DARE TO COMPARE! Heath Ledger was terrific in The Dark Knight and DESERVED his award. Michael Jackson "fell off the face of this earth" for quite some time and was trying to make a "comeback". Any money made after his death is an attempt by the family (and "friends") to profit off of his death. YOU CAN'T COMPARE THE TWO!

By Teresa

You are so wrong because whatever Michael Jackson did before he died was pure genius at work. The two don't compare because nobody can top Michael, he was and still is the best entertainer, people are still listening to his music and watching his video's and short movies because his talent is fresh and magnetizing. He was a one and only who nobody could top or even try to get close to!

King of POP is a genius and a beautiful person. So I'm with Liz Taylor.

Rest in peace (MY Heart) Michael Jackson!

By Tell It Like It Is

To jj48isgreat

King Michael fell off of nowhere! His GREATNESS has NOTHING to do with his family , (unless you refer to the GREATNESS of the ICONIC Jackson Five , who made HISTORY spinning off a succession of NUMBER ONE HITS!!!!) King Michael is so GREAT even in death he is setting WORLD RECORDS!!! He has passed Lennon and Elvis in record sales posthumously , and it ain't over yet!!!! King Michael stayed out of the limelight for DECADES , and still he was sought after VIVIDLY for interviews!!! ICONS like him NEVER DIE!!! King Michael was a MAN not a MANMADE FANTASY!!! He deserves ANY AND EVERY award he would be nominated for!!!!

By Jeanbird

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I can't compare Ledger to Jackson. I don't even want to think about it. It's unrealistic to even contemplate. Michael Jackson was accomplished worldwide in many facets. Sorry, that's my opinion.
He will live on and on. Ledger will be only be remembered for the parts that he played. Let's see, the one where he was a homosexual, and the other as the Joker.....yeah that's something.

By matt

Better to be remembered as playing the Joker and a homosexual(what is wrong with being gay?) than to be remembered as a pervert who sexually abused children.That my dear is what MJ will be remembered as. Heath Ledger was a friend and I worked with him. He was a good person.Just try and find a truthful story about my friend that tells of how he hurt people? Go ahead because you will not find one. Heath is A LEGEND! His acting is not important,a drop in the bucket.His friends and family who truly knew him are world wide and he will be remembered for his kindness and generosity.He was an old gentle soul who loved and took care of everyone he knew. RIP Heath, you are missed.

Jeanbird: Don't forget, Michael WILL FOREVER be thought of as a suspected child molester (even though it has never been proven) and for generally being weird. No matter how much "good" you do, most are forever remembered for the "bad" they have done (or allegedly done). Me, myself, I don't judge...but there are countless others that will and do judge other people.

To jj48isgreat,

Perhaps you think you are as GREAT as THE KING OF POP!!! No chance! The only "bad" thing King Michael will be remembered for , is his album BAD, which was BAD, and very GOOD!!! Out of eleven tracks, SIX ARE NUMBER ONE HITS!!!! Are you so great? I would think very few people are my dear. The only people who suspect any BS about him being a pedophile, are YOU and all similar IDIOTS who choose to FORGO THE FACTS REGARDING THE TWO FABRICATED CASES for whatever reason. Any reference to King Michael being a pedophile is based SOLELY ON PEOPLE'S ASPIRATION TO OBTAIN MONEY THEY DIDN"T WORK FOR , ALONG WITH SATAN"S PLAN TO DEMOLISH GOOD , CLEAN , DECENT PEOPLE LIKE KING MICHAEL!!!! King Michael is DESERVING OF ACCOLADE, ON TOP OF ACCOLADE!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Alexa

RIP Michael Jackson and Heath Ledger.

Michael wasn't going for any kind of award just trying to make a comeback. Heath was just starting out.

Two very sad endings

By elizabeth

How can you even compare these two? Michael Jackson was no genius in my opinion, he was just a musician. He was only doing this concert to get out of debt. Why would anyone in their right mind nominate 'This is It' for Best Picture? If it was even nominated I would be majorly disappointed.

Monday 02 November

To elizabeth,

You must be another one of those visitors from another planet. Well, at least you know we have an entity here called disappointment. For you, at least it is a start. Welcome to planet Earth!!!

No, no Oscar for MJ. Heath worked hard at his acting,and he deserved that Oscar and he should have got one for Brokeback Mountain too.I read about Heath deserving an Oscar nod in December 2007! That was BEFORE he died.Yes there was more interest in TDK because Heath had died but that did not have anything to do with his acting or his performance.Go and watch ALL of Heath Ledger's movies and then you will understand why he got the Oscar. I met and worked with Heath,he was an amazing actor.MJ was a singer. Two very different things.

To matt,

Two different indeed. King Michael was a MAN who did alot more than Heath to help people , and made a laudable effort to help heal our planet. To put it succinctly, MICHAEL JACKSON WAS (and still is since charity will inherit from his estate) A HUMANITARIAN!!! How the heck do you give an Oscar applauding homosexuality and fantasy versus a man's life work? Michael Jackson was not MERELY a singer as you put it. KING MICHAEL departed this life as THE KING OF POP , HAS BEEN DUBBED OVER, AND OVER AS THE WORLD'S GREATEST RECORDING ARTIST/ENTERTAINER, THE LARGEST PHILANTHROPIST IN POP HISTORY, THRILLER IS THE GREATEST SELLING ALBUM OF ALL, HE HAS NOT ONE BUT TWO STARS ON THE WALK OF FAME , DOUBLE ROCK AND ROLL INDUCTEE, THIRTEEN GRAMMYS, EIGHT ACHIEVED IN ONE SITTING WHICH NOONE ELSE HAS DONE, HIS ALBUMS SIT IN EVERY MILLIONS-SELLING CATEGORY UNDER THE SUN EXCEPT FOR THE 40-49 MILLION SELLING CATEGORY, AND THAT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE "OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD" CATEGORY WHICH SITS ABOVE 40-49 MILLION IN SALES IS OCCUPIED SOLELY BY KING MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON!!! HE HOLDS A HOST OF GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TITLES, AND I HAVEN'T SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF ALL KING MICHAEL ACCOMPLISHED IN HIS LIFETIME , ALL THE ACCOLADES HE HAS RECEIVED!!!!! AWARDS JUST TO MENTION , CONTINUE TO POUR IN SINCE HIS UNTIMELY PASSING!!! Just a singer?????? You had better CHECK THE RECORD , and I don't mean the VINYL one!!! Although it is my belief that if people LISTENED to King Michael's lyrics, they would obtain a CLEARER PICTURE of the man himself. I need to state I do not discriminate against anyone's sexual preference , that is a personal choice. I discriminate against ignorance solely. I LOVE Michael Jackson, the Jackson family, family are heirs when someone dies , whether people like it or not. This is the law of the land. I want to see King Michael portrayed in the proper GLORIOUS LIGHT , that he is MORE THAN DESERVING to have beam BRIGHTLY upon him. Also the ICONIC Jackson Five, my HEART belongs to them for eternity. God bless the Jackson family, may they find solace , may they know how much King Michael's fans MISS HIM!!! I'll never forget you King Michael!!! I love you, I'll ALWAYS LOVE YOU, the WORLD'S MUSICAL KING!!!!!!!

Neglected to mention Elizabeth Taylor is an ICON , who has set the pace for other of her craft to FOLLOW , to ASPIRE to. Many we see today do not have the required reach. Elizabeth Taylor commands respect not DISRESPECT in EVERY AVENUE PEOPLE!!!!!!!

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